This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Wednesday's 11-game slate is the largest of the week thus far and presents us with plenty of enticing options, particularly at the guard position. Additionally, the decimated state of the Clippers' starting five is opening up plenty of value and expected bumps in usage for other more expensive players, while a potential Anthony Davis absence gives us plenty to think about in terms of other options on the Pelicans. With so much to sift through, let's dive into the process of highlighting some of the best choices at each salary level:
GUARDS:
Premium Option
Stephen Curry, GS vs. LAC ($19,900): Curry has scored no less than 52.50 and as much as 66.00 fantasy points in his last six games, a stretch during which he's posted a 31.9 percent usage rate and averaged 1.71 fantasy points per minute. Even though Kevin Durant is likely to return to action Wednesday from his calf injury, Curry still averages 1.31 fantasy points per minute when sharing the floor with his star teammate, and the Clippers have also been increasingly vulnerable to point guards as of late. Los Angeles is allowing 53.8 fantasy points to ones over the last five contests, a notably higher figure than the 41.6 figure they've surrendered on the season.
Mid-Tier
Tyreke Evans, MEM vs. NO ($15,000): A number of appealing options below Evans reside in the mid-tier at guard Wednesday for those looking to save a bit more, including Eric Bledsoe ($14,600), Jrue Holiday ($12,900) and Jamal Murray ($12,500). However, Evans is in a favorable spot against one of his old squads, considering the Pelicans have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points (47.9) to two-guards on the season, including 49.0 from the last 10. New Orleans is also surrendering the second-highest shooting percentage (45.0) to the position on the campaign, while Evans is sporting team highs in usage rate (29.2 percent) and fantasy points per minute (1.19) with Mike Conley (Achilles) off the floor this season.
Affordable
E'Twaun Moore, NO at MEM ($8,800): Jawun Evans ($8,900) is also very much worthy of consideration at this level in what should be another starting assignment. However, Anthony Davis appears likely to miss Wednesday's game for the Pelicans with his ankle sprain, leaving Moore in an even better position than he typically would be. Moore is already posting career bests in shooting percentage (54.6) and three-point percentage (45.6), and an even better 62.5 percent overall in his last six games. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies have allowed 38.6 fantasy points per contest to small forwards, along with the third-highest shooting percentage (46.0) to the position. Moore has scored between 23.75 and 32.50 fantasy points in four of the last six games as well, and he should carry a considerably larger offensive role with Davis off the floor.
FORWARDS/CENTERS:
Premium
Jimmy Butler, MIN vs. OKC ($16,000): Butler makes for a considerably less expensive option than DeMarcus Cousins ($20,100), who should rightfully be very popular if Davis does indeed miss. Jimmy Buckets has been flashing impressive upside in his own right recently, as he's scored between 43.75 and 54.50 fantasy points in eight of his last 10 games and shot an impressive 49.0 percent during that stretch. The Thunder will be without Andre Roberson (knee) once again Wednesday – which should make the path to fantasy success for Butler a bit easier -- and the Thunder have given up the third-most fantasy points (64.8) to shooting guards over the last 10 games, along with the second-most made threes (4.0) on the season.
Mid-Tier
Tobias Harris, DET at BKN ($12,900): Harris has compiled 42.00 and 42.75 fantasy points, respectively, in the last two games, with the second total coming with Andre Drummond back in action. His price has remained steady despite his recent uptick in production, and a Wednesday matchup against the Nets could well facilitate more of the same. Brooklyn has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points (51.2) to power forwards over the last 10 games, along with the fifth-highest rebounds (13.4) and second-most blocks (2.4). Moreover, the Nets come in with the poorest team shooting percentage (43.8 percent) in the NBA, which should allow Harris plenty of rebounding opportunities on the defensive glass.
Affordable
Wesley Johnson, LAC at GS ($8,600): Johnson is slated for another start in place of Blake Griffin (concussion) on Wednesday, and he'll draw a matchup that will leave him poised to provide a strong return on a price that doesn't reflect his current opportunity. The Warriors have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points (46.2) to power forwards on the campaign, along with the fifth-highest shooting percentage (51.0) to the position over the last 10 contests. Johnson scored 22.25 fantasy points versus the Hawks in a Monday start, and he'd scored 24.00 fantasy points two games earlier in another expanded opportunity against the Thunder.
UTILITY
Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. ATL ($15,800): For those looking for a cheaper big man in a favorable spot Wednesday, DeAndre Jordan ($14,900) also makes for a very viable candidate given the plethora of Clippers injuries. Meanwhile, the slightly pricier Jokic exploded for 62.00 fantasy points on Monday against the Warriors, and he'd scored between 30.75 and 53.25 fantasy points in nine of the previous 11 games as well. He's averaging 1.17 fantasy points per minute over that span and has played at least 32 minutes in nine of his last 10 contests, providing him with plenty of opportunity to offer solid returns each night. The Hawks present as an inviting target as well, as they've allowed the ninth-most fantasy points (36.9) to centers on the season. They've also surrendered the seventh-most rebounds (11.1) and most assists (3.3) to the position, while Jokic has notably averaged 10.0 boards and 7.2 dimes over his last six contests.
Lou Williams, LAC at GS ($13,900): Williams should once again find himself as the linchpin of the Clippers' offense Wednesday, considering Griffin and Austin Rivers (heel) are already confirmed as out, while Milos Teodosic (foot) is questionable at best. The veteran sharpshooter went off for 42.75 fantasy points on Monday against the Hawks with all three of those players sidelined, and he'd scored between 43.00 and 59.00 fantasy points in three of the prior four contests as well. Williams has put up a whopping 21.7 shot attempts over his last three contests, and he's sporting a robust 35.1 percent usage rate with the aforementioned trio and Danilo Gallinari (glute) off the floor this season. Meanwhile, the Warriors are playing at a pace that's produced the fourth-most possessions (103.9) per contest on the season -- including the third-most (106.1) over the last three – and are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points over the last ten (62.8) and five games (62.2) to two-guards.
